Letter: Berg has history of catering to special interests

Rep. David Rust authored a very interesting letter to the editor of your paper in the Sept. 27 edition expressing his support for Rick Berg for the Senate.

What is ironic about his letter is the glowing words about what a great legislator Berg was. Rust’s letter is ironic in that it is based on one session of service together with Berg.

Rust’s first session was Berg’s last session in 2009. It would seem that such limited association would be less than adequate to make such broad and glowing statements about a colleague.

Surely, his glowing assessment of Berg would indicate that he would have voted for Berg even though the Republican caucus saw fit to reject Berg as leader. Apparently, the majority in the Republican House caucus did not share Rust’s enthusiasm.

I served 10 sessions with Berg. He had a record of catering to special interests. He cast vote after vote against the working men and women of North Dakota. He repeatedly voted against workers’ compensation reform and insurance benefits that injured workers rightfully deserved. He expressed little sympathy for the families of North Dakota.

I know Berg and he is not the same person Rust describes.

Rust is right about one thing. Berg will be dramatically different from the man he wants to replace.

Ole Aarsvold, Blanchard, North Dakota House 1989 to 2008

Tags: opinion, letter, letters